( 32 c 2 ) 



ON THE 



ANTISEPTIC VIRTUES OF 



VEGETABLE ACID AND MARINE SALT 

 COMBINED, 



IN VARIOUS DISORDERS ACCOMPANIED WITH PUTRIDITY. 



[Communicated in a Letter to John Morgan, M. D., F. R. S. and 

 Professor of the Theory and Practice of Physic at Philadelphia.*] 



Having experienced the virtues of vegetable acid and marine 

 salt when combined, I beg leave to lay before you a few obser- 

 vations on the use of this simple medicine in several diseases. 

 It is my sincere wish that it may prove as beneficial to man- 

 kind in general, as it has been to many of my patients in this 

 part of the country +. 



Take of lime-juice or lemon-juice three ounces, of marine 

 salt as much as the acid will dissolve ; of any simple distilled 

 cordial water one pint ; and of loaf sugar a sufficient quantity 

 to sweeten it. The dose of this mixture must be proportioned 

 to the age, sex, and violence of the disease. A wine-glass- 

 ful may be given to adults every two, four, or six hours. 



By Geoffroy"s table, it appears that the fossil alkali has a 

 oreater affinity with the marine than with the vegetable acid. 

 However, marine salt dissolves readily in the lime-juice, throws 



" At the date of this communication the author resided in the Island of 

 Jamaica. 



•{• This paper was originally published in the Transactions of the Ame- 

 rican Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, vol. ii. p. 284. It was afterwards 

 reprinted in the Medical Commentaries for the year 178G. Edinburgh, 

 1787, p. 189. 



